Star Wars: Every Darth Vader Lightsaber Duel, Ranked

The Star Wars franchise has introduced so many terrific, beloved, and iconic things into the world, with the property being an absolute phenomenon, with characters and aspects that are the same. Perhaps the best example of a character who is a phenomenon, almost transcending the franchise, is Darth Vader.

Another crucial piece of iconography from Star Wars is the lightsabers, specifically the battles that are so often highlights of the content they are in, with Vader having his fair share of fantastic on-screen duels throughout the years.

9 Honorable Mention – Vs. Rebel Soldiers (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story)

While not a lightsaber on lightsaber duel, Vader’s scene at the end of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is one of the best Darth Vader scenes in all of Star Wars, and truly displays his ruthlessness and power.

Vader does not ignite his lightsaber much on screen, but every time he does, it leads to something great. This ignition may be the only one to this day that induces fear and inspires chills as he, in the dark, destroys a group of rebel soldiers.

8 Vs. Ezra Bridger (“Twilight Of The Apprentice: Part 2”)

“Twilight Of The Apprentice” is one of the greatest pairs of episodes/stories of Star Wars TV history, with the reintroduction of Maul, the duels with the Inquisitors, and a whole load of absolute brilliance.

The best part of the episode is obvious, but right before that, there is a short lightsaber duel between Ezra and Vader which. It does not last long, with Vader destroying Ezra and his lightsaber, and delivering simply outstanding dialogue, striking fear, and chills in Ezra and the audience.

7 Vs. Cal Kestis (Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order)

The Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order video game is fantastic, one of the best things born into the new canon, and one of the best Star Wars video games in recent memory.

While not a movie or TV show, it does have a canon Darth Vader lightsaber battle on screen, with him clashing sabers with the main protagonist Cal Kestis at the end of the game in a surprise appearance. The duel is more of a chase and is fantastic to play even with a lack of clashing sabers.

6 Vs. Obi-Wan Kenobi (Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope)

The first-ever lightsaber battle in the franchise is one of the most important and has Vader opposing Obi-Wan, nearly two decades following their initial duel.

Time has not been kind to Obi-Wan Vs. Vader in A New Hope, it just is not a good fight or massively entertaining to watch choreography wise. However, the dialogue is what makes it a joy to watch, so too does seeing these characters face-to-face, and seeing Obi-Wan sacrifice himself to save Luke, it is so crucial to the story of the trilogy and of Luke.

5 Vs. Ezra Bridger & Kanan Jarrus (“The Siege Of Lothal”)

Going back to Vader’s brief yet brilliant time in Star Wars: Rebels, the two-part opening event of season two sees Vader [Imperial] march onto the scene and make a significant impact quickly.

The Dark Lord confronts Kanan and Ezra and is far beyond any power they have ever seen, blowing the pair away and displaying not only a lightsaber power beyond their experience but prowess in the Force that is almost underrated in Vader. It is a duel that is a joy to watch, showing Vader in the powerful light he deserves to be seen.

4 Vs. Luke Skywalker (Star Wars: Episode VI – Return Of The Jedi)

Coming at the fourth place may seem too low for the final duel of the original trilogy. Still, pretty much every time Vader ignites a saber, excellence unfolds, and the top four are all pretty interchangeable.

The duel does not have the level of impressiveness as other Vader duels, but it has a whole load of emotion as it culminates with Vader’s redemption, as well as having some beautiful shots and some great moments of combat, with the Emperor in the back looming over the whole thing, creating an even grander atmosphere.

3 Vs. Ahsoka Tano (“Twilight Of The Apprentice: Part 2)

Those who have never watched Rebels will likely find it ludicrous to say that an animated duel is better than that from Return Of The Jedi, but the two are interchangeable, with emotion and writing taking this one above the previous.

“Twilight Of The Apprentice” is pretty much perfect, and this duel culminates it. The sheer emotion packed into every shot of this duel, and every incredibly written piece of dialogue and character work of the sequence makes it one of the best ever. It is not the greatest duel from a combat perspective but does not need to be, it is great in that aspect, and fantastic overall.

2 Vs. Luke Skywalker (Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back)

Again, this duel with Vader from the original trilogy could easily be number one on any other day, but today it stands as a perfect lightsaber duel and second place.

The cinematography is fantastic in this battle, better than any other, with this duel seeing Vader outpowering Luke time and time again, but Luke showing incredible heart. The highlight of this scene is, of course, its climax, with Luke losing his hand and finding out that Vader is his father, one of the most iconic and amazing scenes in cinema history.

1 Vs. Obi-Wan Kenobi (Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge Of The Sith)

Everyone refers to the Battle of the Heroes as being between Anakin and Obi-Wan, and while he may not fully be there yet, Anakin is Darth Vader at this point, with the Anakin inside him desperately holding on.

This duel will usually be in the top five, at the very least, and top three most often lightsaber duels of all time, but with The Clone Wars‘ help the unequivocal emotion in this scene dominates all others, and combine that with incredible choreography and the ever-excellent Ewan McGregor, you have not only Darth Vader’s best battle, but perhaps the best of the franchise.